La Paz, Mexico. Photo credit: Wonderlane via Flickr.

If you could bottle the beauty that is found in La Paz you’d make a mint. In fact, many already try to do just that with a little souvenir snow globe made of sand. Still, this wonderful little town’s beauty is irreplaceable. The capital of Baja California, and, nestled into a little cove on a bay, it enjoys a sunny and warm climate with a nice ocean breeze. People come from the world over to see the ancient cave paintings, enjoy the town’s quaint Spanish-influenced pueblo architecture, or experience world-class water activities. If you’re thinking about heading down to La Paz, Mexico, go.

Part sleepy fishing village, part upscale tourist destination, part old-world pueblo town, La Paz is surprisingly international. Rich in history, La Paz was actually once occupied by American forces, as well as independently controlled for a while. It should come as no surprise then that you’ll likely find a bustle of accents and inflections as you stroll through town. Once settled, head to the markets to see La Paz’s funky storefronts and cool restaurants, and sit and absorb the sound of the city.

The hub of activity in La Paz is the Velasco Garden, and to see this main hub of the city is to see the town at its liveliest. All nightlife stems from this plaza, and during the day the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Paz, the cathedral of La Paz, is a historical buffs dream. A look inside tells the stories of this ancient town and the corresponding story of the Spanish Missions through its extensive murals.

Before you go (or maybe, even, first thing) explore the area’s beautiful beaches. Walk the tidepools, go snorkeling, see the whale migration, go sailing or deepwater fishing. As you can see, there’s plenty to see and do in La Paz. La Paz is the dreamy destination you’ve been waiting for.

-Hudson Hornick

La Paz, Mexico from Mexico Things to Do

A room inside the Blue House. Photo courtesy of User:Peter Andersen via wikimedia.

The Museo Frida Kahlo (Frida Kahlo Museum) in Mexico City is dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Known for her fascinating self-portraits and unique personal style, Frida Kahlo is considered to be one of Mexico’s most important artists and a leading figure of 20th-century Mexican painting. The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as La Casa Azul (the Blue House), is one of the most visited museums in Mexico City and a popular tourist attraction. The museum is housed in the artist’s former home on a tree-lined street in the city’s historic Coyoacán neighborhood and gets its name, the Blue House, from the home’s striking cobalt blue walls.

Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, then a suburb of Mexico City. Her colonial-style Coyoacán home, now the Frida Kahlo Museum, is where she grew up and spent most of her adult life until her death in 1954 at the age of 47. Frida Kahlo suffered from childhood polio and spinal injuries resulting from a devastating streetcar accident when she was a teenager. Her childhood pain and suffering, as well as psychological wounds resulting from her tumultuous 25-year marriage to famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, are reflected in her paintings and self-portraits.

The Frida Kahlo Museum showcases artwork by Frida and her husband, Diego Rivera, as well as pieces from their Mexican folk art collection, photographs, memorabilia and personal items. Several of the rooms have been converted into gallery spaces displaying painting and photographs, while others house collections of the artist’s elaborate costumes and jewelry. The dining room and kitchen display colorful Mexican style tiles and clay pots. The museum’s u-shaped courtyard houses sculptures, pottery, special exhibits and a small gift shop. A popular time to visit this Mexico City attraction is during the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday, when elaborate ofrendas (offerings) to the artist are displayed in the museum’s courtyard.

-Paige Penland

Frida Kahlo Museum from Mexico Things to Do

Mercado Jamaica, Mexico City. Photo via luigig via Flickr.

One of the highlights when traveling is getting a chance to do a little souvenir shopping. The experience is more than just the purchase, but the act of immersing yourself into a totally different cultural whirlpool. Markets are, in many ways, a societal meeting point for a town, and so a visit to a foreign market tells you more than just what came in with today’s catch. Mexico City is a big city, and has some great markets to choose from. This list will help you get started, but if the idea seems daunting, Viator offers a historic Mexico City market tour, which might be just what you’re looking for. Whichever you choose, remember to be safe, haggle, and never accept the first price offered.

Mercado de Sonora gets my first choice of recommendations because this little market deals in exotics and the mysterious. Head here to buy potions, amulets, charms, powders, medicines and equipment for spiritual cleansing.

Bazar Sabado, as the name implies, is a Saturday market in the south of the city and showcases some of the best of Mexican handiwork. Artisan made jewelry, woodwork, ceramics and textiles fill the stalls here, as do their usual accompaniment stalls pushing t-shirts and tom-tom drums. Keep an eye out for the true artists and artwork and find something special at Bazar Sabado.

Bazar de Oro is located between Plaza Villa de Madrid and Avenida Insurgentes and is known for its excellent food, aside from being a bit more of an upscale market. Head here if you’re looking for something nice – but remember that the haggling rule still applies.

La Merced market is probably the most famous of Mexico City’s markets. A Mecca of markets, if you will. Each warehouse has a different theme, so grab some horchata and stroll among fruit, vegetables, candy, flowers, clothes, toys, gifts, artwork, and the general grab-bag of market stalls.

These ideas should get you going on some great options to explore the Mexican markets. Have fun, haggle, and remember to look for that elusive bargain! Do you have any favorite Mexico City markets not offered here?

 -Hudson Hornick

Markets in Mexico City from Mexico Things to Do

Historic town center of Zacatecas. Photo courtesy of Eneas via Flickr.

One of the great cities of New Spain, Zacatecas for a long time stood as a Mexican center for silver mining, colonization, evangelization, and cultural expansion. Numerous (15) religious structures dot the Historic Center of Zacatecas, including a grand cathedral decorated in the Baroque style. Today, the Historic Center of Zacatecas acts as a sort of living museum, each corner seemingly borne of colonial grandeur, rich with history and a great place to walk, eat, and shop in.

Getting around in the Historic Center of Zacatecas is a bit of a walk, as many corridors are so narrow cars can’t navigate them, and houses upon houses seem to be built right into the walls that line these streets. Luckily, there’s a cable car (or teleferico) that will take you high above the city center and provide exceptional views of the area. Once atop La Bufa (the cliff) you’ll be able to see the Museo de la Toma de Zacatecas which houses weapons, documents, photos and other artifacts relating to a historic and decisive battle of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

While in Zacatecas, be sure to check out El Eden, an inactive silver mine which was carved out largely by hand and now contains the world’s only nightclub inside a mine – very cool indeed. The Parque General Enrique Estrada is a beautiful park beside the aqueduct and the Temple de Fatima, known for its beautiful fountain and walking grounds.

Part of the great thing about visiting this area is exploring the ruins and going silver shopping. As its history indicates, Zacatecas is still known worldwide for its silver production, so this is a great place to nab a keepsake. Additional fun can be had by renting a car to visit some of the nearby ruins in the area.

-Hudson Hornick

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Mexico tours and things to do, Mexico attractions, and Mexico travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Mexico for a customized tour!

Exploring the Historic Center of Zacatecas from Mexico Things to Do

Tour guide and group

I think almost everyone would agree that a trip to Mexico is not complete unless you get in some shopping and tequila drinking. After all it is Mexico. There are certain expectations to uphold, and thankfully there is a tour to help you do that.

My Puerto Vallarta City Tour began with a stop at the Malecon (boardwalk) where our guide talked about the various pieces of art along the boardwalk before taking us to the main square across the street, and then on to Church of Our Lady of Guadaloupe; a beautiful church in the heart of downtown Puerto Vallarta.

After our brief tour of downtown Puerto Vallarta our guide, Carlos, took us to a jewelry store a few blocks away where we have 20 minutes to shop for gold and silver jewelry made by local artisans, as well as enjoy our first cup of tequila for the day (in the form of a margarita). Nothing like tequila by 11am to kick things off.

Once we’d had our fill of jewelry shopping Carlos took us to the Mercado Municipal, a large indoor/outdoor flea market with two floors filled with shops selling everything from ceramics to libré masks (think Mexican wrestling), clothing and small souvenirs. The market was like a maze, and with each turn there were more shops, and more vendors. It was like a one stop tourist shop stop, which was great as I was able to buy all the little souvenirs I needed, saving me shopping time later on.

As our shopping time came to a close we gathered once again as a group, climbed into the bus, and made our way to Heche for our tequila tasting. The drive along the coast was gorgeous, and before leaving the coast behind and making our way into the mountains the bus pulled over at Los Arcos for one last look at the turquoise blue water, the large rock formation, and a view of the Puerto Vallarta skyline.

Our tequila tour included an introduction into the art of making tequila, the use of blue agave, and how tequila with a strong flavor generally has sugar in it (which is why you get a nasty hangover the next day). The history and making of tequila was interesting, but I wanted to actually taste it. Our tasting featured six different tequilas, three were standard (blanco, gold, and negro), and three were flavored (coffee, mandarin, and caramel). While each were different in flavor, they were equally delightful and if I had the money and the space, I would have bought a bottle of each. Seriously.

The tour ended with a lunch at a secluded restaurant located by a river. The setting was peaceful, and the seafood dishes available for purchase were delicious. If you ask me, it was a fabulous way to end the tour.

-Pamela MacNaughton

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Mexico tours and things to do, Mexico attractions, and Mexico travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Mexico for a customized tour!

Shopping and Tequila in Puerto Vallarta from Mexico Things to Do

The cove of Ensenada. Photo courtesy of gabofr via Flickr.

Nicknamed both the “Cinderella of the Pacific” and the “Pearl of the Pacific,” Ensenada, as you might guess, is one of Mexico‘s crowning jewels. Known for its water sports, its beautiful natural flora and fauna and for being one second only to Napa Valley in terms of excellent wine growing regions, Ensenada is a coastal city with enough charms for just about anyone. The third-largest city in Baja California, this small-yet-large town is a popular tourist destination the whole year round.

Lying just south of San Diego, Ensenada is a beautiful welcome into Mexico. Backed by national parks and mountain ranges, Ensenada maintains a Mediterranean climate, a short rainy season, and one of the best night skies for stargazing in all of Mexico. Excellent eating usually comes in the form of fresh local seafood, ceviche, and langoustine (little lobster) with a bucket or two of Coronitas (little Cornonas). Finer dining is also available in Ensenada, as the past twenty years have seen this sleepy seaside village transform into a mecca for those who love the sand, the sun, and the beach.

Catering to the romantic in all of us, the Cinderella of the Pacific will fulfill your ideas of hot Mexican days followed by sleepy, mariachi filled nights. The friendly atmosphere is welcoming, and wandering minstrels fill the cantinas with upbeat Banda music while shops peddle silver, hand-woven blankets, decorative masks, leather clothing, and some artisan pottery sculpture. Out on the water, people enjoy riding horses, sailing, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, whale watching, and surfing. Golf is another popular activity, and the world-class Baja Mar Oceanfront Golf Resort is a beautiful yet challenging course that both beginners and experts appreciate.

While here, don’t forget to visit the local wineries. Many local restaurants will have excellent local sampling available, but to really enjoy the local area’s production, one must get out into it. Consider a stop at Ensenada’s Bodegas de Santo Tomas winery your first stop. Here you’ll learn about the history of the wine-making in the region and this will give you a good grounding for when you want to venture out into the beyond.

-Hudson Hornick

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Mexico tours and things to do, Mexico attractions, and Mexico travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Mexico for a customized tour!

Ensenada, Mexico’s Cinderella of the Pacific from Mexico Things to Do

Chichen Itza of the Mayan Riviera. Photo courtesy of mybulldog via Flickr.

Travel is not always about just relaxation. It’s also about getting out there and exploring the world, seeing what your neighbors in other countries are doing, stirring up a little wanderlust and boning-up on your history. A good vacation is one that gets you a bit lost, a bit excited, and is endless informative and entertaining. Good thing you’re headed to the Yucatan, then.

Chances are, if you’re heading to the Yucatan you’ll be staying in Cancun or nearby – Playa del Carmen maybe – and if that’s the case, then the world is your oyster as far as having a wide variety of exciting options to choose from. My recommendation is to spend a day or so getting used to Cancun, have some fun, get settled, then head out into the wild beyond. This part of Mexico is known for its quiet fishing villages, the white-sand beaches, and the wild outdoors. Party in Cancun for a night or two, then head out to one of the Xcaret parks in order to experience the outdoors like never before.

The Xcaret group specializes in being an eco-friendly park with tons of fascinating activities. Kayak through mangrove swamps, see an ancient Mayan fire ceremony, play with dolphins, snorkel, relax by the pool – there’s really so much to do here they’re worthy of a trip on their own. There are three parks to choose from, so see which one best suits you, then head out and enjoy.

The teardrop-shaped Cozumel is another must-see for the water-lovers. Here you can explore the underwater in a glass-bottomed boat, do some of the area’s best scuba and snorkeling, cruise through the jungle, or take an atlantis submarine into unknown depths.

Chances are, if you’re headed to the Yucatan, you’re going to want to see some ancient Mayan ruins. Am I right? There are many to choose from, but Chichen Itza is one of the official seven wonders of the world, and Ek Balam is one of the most mysterious archeological sits ever to be discovered. Both are within a relatively close proximity to each other, as is another archeological wonder – Uxmal. If archeology and exploring ancient civilizations intrigues you, there’s always an 8-day Yucatan Tour which will show you the interior of the Yucatan you desire.

Check out multi-day tours of the Yucntan around Cancun. 

What to Do With One Week in the Yucatan Peninsula from Mexico Things to Do

Xochimilco

Just 28 kilometers south of Mexico City, what was once a separate unincorporated city hearkening back to ancient Aztec times, is now the neighborhood which enwraps the southern shore of Lake Xochimilco and goes by its eponymous name – i.e., Xochimilco. Best known for its canals and for having its own identity separate from that of the rest of Mexico City, Xochimilco is a popular tourist haven and great escape for those wishing to see the pre-Hispanic Mexico.

A UNESCO World-Heritage site, Xochimilco (“Place of Flowers”) was built upon the spongy and fertile land that is of the area. Rich with flora and fauna, much of the surrounding countryside is preserved, and, sadly, is the last of this type of habitat, as the conquistadores destroyed much of it and drained many of the canals.

Today Lake Xochimilco and the canal system have captured the hearts of anyone who happens to come by and take one of the gondola-like boats (called trajineras) or eat some of the local food. Taking one of the trajineras out for a float is an interesting and enlivening experience, as mariachi bands and food vendors float by offering their services. For a fee, many mariachi bands will attach their boat to yours and float along playing you music as you desire. Grab a good guide and he’ll explain the ancient Aztec ruins you’ll pass along the way.

Keep a lookout for the souvenir market along the wharf, and don’t miss the neighborhood’s Xochimilco Cathedral. It’s all here in this, the most authentic of Mexican tourist destinations.

-Hudson Hornick

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Mexico tours and things to do, Mexico attractions, and Mexico travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Mexico for a customized tour!

Xochimilco from Mexico Things to Do

Ancient Mayan Ruins in Mexico. Courtesy of amber.kennedy via Flickr.

One of the best activities to partake in while in Mexico is to make a visit to see some of the architectural and cultural wonders. A little sightseeing in Mexico can go a long way, and, specifically the Yucatan Peninsula, there are some great spots to check out. One of the most popular are the famous Mayan ruins. Mayan ruins are scattered throughout Mexico, and many resort towns and popular tourist spots have ruins close by, but here are a few hotspots that any archaeologist would consider him/herself lucky to stumble upon.

Campeche Mexico has some great Mayan ruin sites. Calakmul, for instance, sits smack-dab in the middle of the geographic center of the Mayan region and thus received influences from the North and South. Perhaps this is why the temple itself is so impressive. Towering above the landscape, this Mayan Ruin evidences an uninterrupted architectural sequence which extends across fourteen centuries (550 B.C. – 900 A.D.) Becan is also located in Campeche, just about 6 kilometers west of the town of Xphil. Here you’ll find over 20 major constructions, temple pyramids, and jungle expanse.

In the heart of the Yucatan you’ll find Chichen Itza, the most visited Mayan ruin in the world. This is due in part to the Mexican government’s dedication to the site – eighteen different structures have been restored throughout the years. The pyramid Kukulcan is the tallest and most grand of the structures, and during the spring and fall equinox, rumor has it that as the sun sets the shadow of a snake can be seen winding its way down the steps – a very popular event for photographers.

Ek Balam, Mayapan, and Dzibilchaltun are other famous Mayan ruins located throughout the Yucatan peninsula. Cancun in particular has some great Mayan Ruins, but if you’re anywhere in Mexico from Quintana Roo to Campeche to the Yucatan, check with the local guides about visiting some historical Mayan Ruins if you feel like expanding your horizons.

-Hudson Hornick

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Mexico tours and things to do, Mexico attractions, and Mexico travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Mexico for a customized tour!

Mayan Ruins in Mexico from Mexico Things to Do

Blue Agave in Mexico. Photo credit: jay8085 via Flickr.

The state of Jalisco in Mexico is famous for the production of tequila, a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the blue agave plant. Tequila is Mexico’s national drink and plays an important role in Mexican culture. The history of tequila in Mexico dates back to the mid-16th-century, but the beverage didn’t gain widespread popularity until after the Mexican Revolution.

The blue agave plants that are used in the production of tequila are cultivated for eight to 12 years before they’re harvested and shipped to the distilleries. Mexico produces four varieties of tequila, blanco (white), oro (gold), reposado (rested) and añejo (aged). The better quality tequilas are the rested and aged varieties, whereas the white and gold varieties are often used for mixing drinks. Tequila is required by law to contain at least 51% agave, and tequilas labeled premium must contain 100% agave. Tequila is produced throughout Mexico’s central highland region, but genuine tequilas must be produced in one of two municipalities in the state of Jalisco—Tequila or Arandas.

Drinking tequila in Mexico is an art form and the best tequilas are often sipped, not taken as shots or mixed in margaritas. You can learn a lot about drinking tequila in Mexico on a tequila tour. One of the best places to do tequila tours in Mexico is in the small town of Tequila, located 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Guadalajara. Here you can visit the National Tequila Museum and take a ride on the Tequila Express. Tequila tours typically include visits to local distilleries and tastings.

- Laura Nazimiec

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Mexico tours and things to do, Mexico attractions, and Mexico travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Mexico for a customized tour!

Everything You Need to Know About Drinking Tequila in Mexico from Mexico Things to Do